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- I'm here today at the Microsoft headquarters in Edinburgh to celebrate the
first Microsoft IT apprenticeship graduation for our cohorts
in 2011 and 2012.
- We've been working with Microsoft, um, for a number of years now, on their, uh,
Microsoft partner apprenticeship program across the UK, and particularly,
in Scotland over the last 18 months, uh, we've been out to launch the program here
and get a good number of young people engaged with the program. And so today
we're here to celebrate the graduation of 25 of those uh, first apprentices.
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- I've always enjoyed IT, since a very young age. I was actually told at the,
start of the apprenticeship, um, it's gonna be tricky, are you willing, are you
sure you want to do this, and I always said yeah definitely. Um, so it has been
tricky but since I've enjoyed it so much, I'm quite happy to do it, it's been a really
good experience, I really enjoyed everything about it.
- Well we believe that the number of young people acquired for these types
of programs will, uh, be greater as our, partners grow. So, the fact that QA are
making the type of investments they are really supports that growth, and it's
actually great news for the industry in Scotland.
- So, last year we got approached by QA, and asked, would we consider being part
of Microsoft's apprenticeship program, um, our view was initially um, "we're not
really sure" because we're not sure how that fits in with what we're doing. Once
it was explained a little bit, it actually compliments quite well our services.
- We've got two apprentices who've been really hard working, they've applied
themselves really well, they've, they've gained a wealthy experience through the,
uh, program, and they embedded really great into the team, and they're already making a
difference in the business.
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- They've achieved a variety of different, qualifications, vendor specific
qualifications, such as Microsoft, certifications, as well as SVQ level 3
qualifications as well, and the particular
roles they've been doing for their employers.
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- There's been a lot of studying, a Microsoft exam, a lot
of studying involved but it pays off in the end.
- Girls just manage it just as well, and I know folk, like people don't really
understand that "a girl doing that", but it's actually quite good.
- It is a modern apprenticeship, so they actually have been out in the work place,
delivering for organizations in Scotland. Uh, so the number one thing
is the hard work and that there's the creativity, some of the projects they've
worked on, that delivered real benefit, uh to the companies that they worked for.
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- QA have been absolutely fantastic and supportive and have given me,
all the course work I need, they've given me extra support, and they've really
helped me with my portfolio to get it to the best I can, uh they've been
absolutely fantastic.
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- I'd say definitely, go for it, it's um, if you're looking at University, um, you
know it's good to get a degree at the end of it, but you don't get any of the uh,
the experience that you get off the, apprenticeship, and I'd say definitely go
for it.
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